Manchay, Peru is a mountainous area in the coastal desert just outside the capital city of Lima. It is an area of extreme poverty with no running water, no sewage system, and little electricity.
The Manchay Care Centre opened in May 2003 in response to the needs of mothers requiring a safe place to leave their children while working, so as not to put them in a children's home.
Over 30,000 people live in the town of Manchay. Plywood and cardboard make up the materials used to construct these small (usually 12 feet square or less) houses. Most of the community literally exists hand to mouth.
The care centre is a work in progress. Presently there are two classrooms and a kitchen. These buildings have been funded through the generous donations of supporters. The construction has been carried out by several different work teams from both Canada and the United States. The care centre will continue to develop such buildings as a dining hall, as donor funding becomes availalbe.
Currently the care centre serves children from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday. Care for the children includes basic hygiene needs, clothing, nutritious meals, health care, educational preparation and spiritual development. Twice a month the mothers join their children for a family-style meal. After the meal they receive training and parenting skills.
The present facility can accommodate 20-25 children. Additional children will be taken into our care as the centre is developed.
Our goal is to add an after-school program for four-year-olds when they reach Kindergarten age. This program would include a safe place for tutoring, a nutritous meal and Bible study.
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